LIBERTY - It’s not always easy for Democrats to sharply criticize a Democratic governor but on Friday here, both Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and freshman State Senator Jen Metzger did just that. In stinging rebukes, Sullivan County’s two representatives in Albany pulled no punches in protesting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2019 budget proposal to significantly reduce “Aid and Incentives For Municipalities (AIM). “ They were joined at a news conference here last Friday by speakers Luis Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature, Town of Liberty Supervisor Brian Rourke, Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber, Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose and Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak. Gunther pointed out that funding for towns and villages statewide will be only $59 millon under Cuomo’s executive budget. “But funding for cities will be provided in full. How many cities does Sullivan County have? That would be zero. And yet the rural and suburban parts of the state, which needs this support the most, are going to be paying the price. So now villages and towns are faced with a choice: either raise property taxes or exceed the (two percent) tax cap. Or the worse that would be, to cut services.” Gunther said that “Governor Cuomo knows how we have struggled over the years in Sullivan and Orange to turn our communities around. And this is not any help to all of us. I’m sick of all the focus on New York City. Let’s put a little focus on upstate New York. We will try to stop these cuts every step of the way and I have a great partner in Jen (Metzger). “ Metzger added: “We’ll be pressing hard not just to keep the present AIM funding but to see it increased. You can’t bleed a stone but that’s exactly what this proposal is,” said Metzger, who in November became the first woman representing the 42nd Senatorial District. (Her predecessor, John Bonacic, held the seat for two decades before announcing his retirement in May 2018). Metzger, pointing out her immediate past experience as a town council member and deputy town supervisor of Rosendale (Ulster County), said: “Local governments are the most resourceful form of government there is...and work really hard to staying within the tax cap.” Metzger pointed out that upstate communities like those she serves are uniquely challenged because they have very high property taxes coupled with lower income than suburban communities downstate, such as in Westchester, where new State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins lives, and Long Island, the home of former State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.
L-R: Village of Liberty Mayor Ron Stabak; Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose; Chair of SC Legislature Luis Alvarez and Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber
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